Minutes of Yeovilton Parish Council held on Tuesday July 14th 2020 at St. Peter’s Church, Podimore at 7.30pm.
Present: Mrs. R. S. Jones, Chairman, Mr. P. Browncey, Mr. D. Board, Mr. A. Hickman, Mr. R. Luck, Mr. M. Lewis, County Councillor, Mr. A. Capozzoli, District Councillor, Rev. B. Faulkner and Mr. P. Horsington, Clerk.
Three members of the public attended.
The meeting was held with strict social distancing, with sanitiser being available, due to the Covid 19 epidemic.
1. Apologies
Apologies were received from Mr. B. Barlow, Mr. A. Elliott, Mr. C. Hull, District Councillor, Mr. P. Rowsell, District Councillor, Mr. R. Graydon, CRO, RNAS, PC. Stefan Edwards & PCSO Thelma Mead.
2. Minutes
The Minutes of the previous meeting, having been circulated, were signed as correct.
3. Declarations of Interest
Mr. Luck declared personal & financial interests in applications 20/01811/HOU & 20/01812/LBC at Manor Cottage, Weir Lane, Yeovilton for a replacement Sun Room.
4. Open Session & County & District Councillors’ reports
Mr. Capozzoli, District Councillor, informed the meeting that the next SSDC Council meeting will be discussing the process necessary for joining the Limington Parish meeting with Yeovilton Parish Council to create one new Council by using the Zoom process. Rev. Faulkner asked if the SSDC members are lawfully permitted to vote by using Zoom.
It was indicated by Mr. Lewis, County Councillor that it is permitted.
Mr. Capozzoli informed the meeting that SSDC has funded £14 million in Grants to assist businesses affected by Covid 19.
Mr. Capozzoli stated that the three Electrical Charging points within SSDC have been officially opened.
Mr. Capozzoli reported that the Chief Planning Officer, Mr. Simon Fox has already left, with two more Planning Officers about to leave. The Director of SSDC is advertising these vacancies. Mr. Capozzoli stated that decisions on planning applications is in some disarray.
Mr. Capozzoli stated that SSDC have met with the Leader of Somerset County Council and received a presentation on the creation of a possible Unitary Authority. Mr. Lewis, County Councillor informed the meeting that a Business case for a Unitary Authority is being made. SSDC are to debate this at their next meeting.
Mr. Board asked which Councils would be involved. Mr. Lewis stated that the proposals to create a Unitary Authority would combine Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgemoor & Taunton Deane as one Authority.
Mr. Lewis, County Councillor, informed the meeting that the County Council has ended their financial year with a £6 million surplus.
Mr. Lewis reported that the Secretary of State for Transport is to shortly make an announcement on the A.303 upgrade works to dualling.
Mr. A. Myers, Hainbury Mill, introduced himself and raised problems he has had during the recent fine weather during the Lock down period. These were cars parking on the verge & Footpath outside of his property and the litter left by members of the public. The parked cars had caused him major problems with visibility when trying to exit his property. Mr. Myers stated the maximum number attending at any time had been about 70 persons and on average had numbered 40, these being mainly adults. The Police had been informed, and his suggestion to the meeting, was to have double yellow lines put on the road outside the length of his property. Mrs. Hickman stated that she & her family have had the same issues in Yeovilton village particularly in the Weir area.
Mrs. Jones stated that she had contacted the owner of the land, which had been copied to Mr. Myers and the Police, and since then slurry had been spread on the river banks to deter the public.
It was agreed to discuss the request for double yellow lines under Highway issues.
Mrs. Hickman reported three problems on the local Bridle Paths, not all within Yeovilton Parish, one issue being gates that are not easy to open and fallen trees. It was noted that these can be reported directly to SCC Rights of Way via their website.
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5. RNAS matters, Police, Community & Church matters
In the absence of Mr. Graydon, CRO, RNAS, Mrs. Jones read from his report sent by Email. This included the following –
Low Flying – during the Lock down period, Mr. Graydon stated that the number of complaints has increased by 500% per week on average. However few of these complaints have been from Yeovilton village. In actual fact, RNAS Yeovilton itself, has been doing less flying, but the difficulty has been that Merrifield site has been closed for most of the period, meaning that more flying has been concentrated at RNAS Yeovilton. Added to that summer came early, meaning that many more than usual have had to remain at home and outside, plus windows open at night. Mr. Graydon thanked the residents of Yeovilton Parish for their forbearance.
New Commanding Officer – Commodore Niall Griffin has succeeded Cdre Tindal, taking up his post on Wednesday last. Cdre Griffin has been at RNAS Yeovilton as CO CHF prior to Colonel L Brown.
Regrettably it was not possible to arrange the meeting with Cdre Tindal to discuss the flooding issues at Bridgehampton before he left. Mr. Graydon stated as yet he has not met with Cdre Griffin, but he hopes to introduce him to both Yeovilton & Ilchester Parish Councils in due course.
New Fence – Mr. Graydon stated that works have started and thanked the Landowners who are co-operating with Amey, the Contractors. The work was initially scheduled to take about twelve weeks to complete.
Air Day – Mr. Graydon referred to six plus hours on Facebook last Saturday ‘Air Day Rewind’ at the end of which, the date of next year’s Air Day was to be July 10th . No doubt there will be a lot of caveats on that day, not least that it is difficult to predict now what restrictions will still be in place.
Rev. Faulkner informed the meeting that St. Peter’s, Podimore was now open for private prayer, and is expected to be open for public Worship sometime in August.
6. Planning matters
The Council noted application SCC/3633/2019 at the Podimore Recycling Centre, Lower Farm, Podimore for the extension of existing recycling facility to include erection of topsoil shed, lorry workshop and improved staff facilities and the creation of a perimeter embankment – no decision
The Council noted that application 20/00556/NMA for Ms. Joanna Manley at Greenstalls Park,
Costello Hill for Change of Use of an agricultural building to (Use Class B8) storage / distribution had been supported & approved.
The Council noted that application 20/00969/LBC at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton for carrying out internal & external alterations to re-instate the Chancel blocked Priest’s door on the south elevation had been supported, no decision to date.
The Council noted application application 20/01256/FUL at West Farm, Pyle Lane for conversion of
former traditional agricultural buildings into 4 dwellings and use of adjoining building as ancillary storage / communal space had been considered by the Councillors and the Council had been divided three in favour of the application with three opposed. There was no decision to report. It is recorded that the Chairman Mrs. R. S. Jones took no part in any discussions.
Mr. Luck, having declared Interests in applications 20/01811/HOU & 20/01812/LBC at Manor
Cottage, Weir Lane, Yeovilton for replacement Sun Room, left the meeting. After discussion, the Council fully support the application. Mr. Luck returned to the meeting.
Mr. Luck stated that it is now a requirement that applicants are to inform and consult with adjacent neighbours. It was strongly suggested that this requirement is ignored, as it should be the Planning officers, who have this responsibility to notify adjacent properties.
Mrs. Jones reported that there is an application to amend conditions at the Solar Farm, Southfield Farm, Smithy Lane. As there were no details received, this was noted.
7. Annual Statement of Governance
Mrs. Jones, Chairman read & signed the Annual Statement of Governance.
8. Financial matters
On the proposition of Mr. Browncey, seconded by Mr. Luck, the Council formally adopted the Annual accounts. These had been circulated to all members. Mrs. Jones read & signed a copy of the Accounts.
Mrs. Jones read & signed the Annual return documents to be sent to the External auditors PKF Littlejohn, Canary Wharf, London. It was noted that the Notice for Public Inspection has been displayed on the Notice board & is on the Website.
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The Council noted that the balances as at 30/06/20 were as follows, in the Current A/c £987.68p and £6,205.64p in the B/P Account.
Payments received – £3,500 Precept & £1.13p Bank interest
Payments made
14/04/20 12/05/20 09/06/20 14/07/20 14/07/20
100423 £63 100424 £357.74 100425 £312.95 100426 £66 100428 £192
HMRC paye tax
Came & Co. Insurances
P. Horsington salary &expenses HMRC paye tax
Chalmers & Co managing tax
The above payments were authorised and the cheques signed.
The Council considered the issue of the Public Accessibility Regulations 2018, of which part is having an Accessibility Statement on the Website by September 23rd 2020. Having looked at the Government website, the Clerk felt it would be safer if Vision ICT Ltd were to provide this at a cost of £45 plus VAT. The Council endorsed this action.
Mr. Luck reported that the litter bin at the Weir, Yeovilton had disappeared sometime in April, leaving very little trace. After discussion, it was agreed that the Clerk obtain the price of a new bin and contact Came & Co to see if a claim can be made on the Insurance policy. Mr. Luck agreed to provide evidence for the Clerk to forward to Came & Co.
The Chairman reported that Lee Wright of West Farm, Yeovilton has kindly offered to erect the new litter bin on behalf of the Parish Council.
9. Highway matters
The Council discussed the issues raised by Mr. Myers earlier, and considered his request for double yellow lines. Mr. Luck stated that if yellow lines were put in place, it was unlikely that the Police would enforce these and issue tickets. Mr. Board suggested that Mr. Myers put up a chain barrier outside his property, whilst it was suggested that rocks strategically placed, would deter parking on the verge and protect his entrance.
After discussion, the Council agreed not to support this request.
Mrs. Jones reported that there had been regular speed checks on the B.3151, catching many speeding vehicles. This was noted.
Mr. Browncey asked if Ilchester had bought the SID, and if it was in place, to which the Clerk replied to date, due to Covid 19, it had not arrived. The order for it is being followed up by a member of Ilchester Parish Council.
It was hoped that the SID would available for the Parish Council to hire on an occasional basis.
10. Flooding issues
Mr. Browncey stated that there is a lot of weed in the river Yeo, and it was agreed to contact the Environment Agency highlighting this issue. It was noted that there had been no meeting with the former Commodore.
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11. Tree matters
Mr. Luck reported that a tree in the river Yeo by the Weir, Yeovilton has now gone.
12. Rights of Way.
Mr. Luck informed the meeting that most of the Footpaths in the Parish were in a reasonable condition. The Council noted the comments made earlier by Mrs. Hickman.
13. Correspondence
The Council noted the Somerset Waste Partnership newsletter & Clerks Direct.
14. Items for report, or for the agenda of the next meeting
Mr. Luck asked if the Emails received from the County Council & sent to members, on Corvid 19 & other topics, could be forwarded in format – not PDF – to be uploaded onto the Yeovilton Facebook site. Rev. Faulkner stated that he has a programme, which is able to make the necessary conversion. This was welcomed.
The Council confirmed the date of the next Parish Council meeting for Tuesday September 8th 2020 at 7.30pm, with the venue being either St. Peter’s Church Podimore or St. Bartholomew’s Church, Yeovilton.
Thanks were expressed to Rev. Faulkner for making the necessary arrangements for holding a safe meeting. There being no further business, the Chairman thanked all present, and declared the meeting closed at 8.45pm.